Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients

5  to 6 oz. mild, creamy goat cheese or cream cheese, at room temperature

2 tablespoons  chopped parsley

1/4 teaspoon  black pepper

2  plum tomatoes, seeded and diced

3 tablespoons  olive oil

1/8 teaspoon  salt

1  loaf (about 8 oz.) Italian bread

2  cloves garlic, halved

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, stir together goat cheese, 1 Tbsp. parsley and pepper until thoroughly combined. In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, 2 tsp. olive oil, salt and 1 1/2 tsp. parsley.

Slice off and discard ends of bread. Slice loaf diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices and place on a baking sheet. Toast in oven until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Rub 1 side of each toast slice with cut side of garlic. Brush with remaining olive oil.

Just before serving, spread toast slices with cheese mixture and top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 tsp. parsley on top.